About Donna Harke

About 15 years ago I was not happy in the field that I got my master’s degree in and I had to look at what I did have passion for and it was animals and exercise. I looked into yoga school to be a yoga instructor and I looked into many different fields working with animals. All of the ones that did not require me to go back to school anyway. I settled on Petsitting and Dogwalking and I had just recently moved to Apex NC and started with getting my name out into the community as a new petsitter. For the first year or so, I was waiting tables at a mom and pop restaurant and petsitting as much as I could until I did not have to work in the restaurant business at all and could do my passion full time. I have been in business for 13+ years now and I really do have the best job on earth. How lucky am I to be doing what I love all of the time and making a living at the same time!!

I am from Raleigh, NC. I was not born in NC, but had been living in Raleigh since 1970 until I moved to Mentone, Alabama in April of 2025. I was born in Gainsville, FLA. I am excited to get to know everything there is to know about Mentone and the surrounding areas, such as Valley Head, Fort Payne, Menlo, and Summerville.

I never knew how much there was to being a petsitter and dogwalker. There is so much to learn and so many workshops and webinars and certificates that a person can do and stand out in this field. For instance I am insured and I do have my Pet First Aid certificate. I do belong to a petsitter’s organization that keeps me current and I belong to a petsitter group on facebook that is immensely helpful and full of expertise and advise. I always knew that I wanted to give exceptional care. I also knew that I wanted to make visits into people’s homes with the pets because I knew that pets have the least amount of anxiety when they get to stay in their own home with their own smells and their familiar surroundings. I am the kind of person that notices EVERYTHING so when I go into a client’s home, I notice everything around me and can tell what needs to be done and what is going on with the pet and the house. I believe that is what has made me successful in the petsitting and dogwalking business. I notice everything and because of that I feel like I go above and beyond.

I am proud to provide quality care to dogs, cats and any other pet in the comfort of their own home. No pet is off limits. I love ALL animals. I am extremely hardworking, trustworthy, reliable, responsible, and dedicated. I believe that these traits are what has made me successful. I believe that providing quality care is what gives clients peace of mind and what gets me referrals time and time again. I am SO grateful for the people that entrust me with their pets!!